Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/110691 
Year of Publication: 
2015
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8966
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper examines the effects of county-level urbanization and natural amenities on subjective well-being (SWB) in the U.S. SWB is measured using individual-level data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) which asks respondents to rate their overall life satisfaction. Using individual-level SWB data allows us to control for several important individual characteristics. The results suggest that urbanization lowers SWB, with relatively large negative effects for residents in dense counties and large metropolitan areas. Natural amenities also affect SWB, with warmer winters having a significant positive effect on self-reported life-satisfaction. Implications for researchers and policymakers are discussed.
Subjects: 
subjective well-being
urbanization
population density
amenities
quality of life
JEL: 
I00
Q00
R00
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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